Maternal methionine supplementation alters the epigenome of the offspring [Bisulfite-Seq]

Maternal nutrition can induce modifications in the epigenome of the fetus, resulting in gene expression alterations and impacting future performance. Epigenetic changes are related to nutrition via the one carbon cycle, which involves aminoacid methionine. We hypothesized that an increased dietary methionine in beef cows during early gestation will impact the whole-genome DNA methylation and transcriptome of the offspring. Brangus-Angus crossbred cows were randomly assigned to one of two nutritional treatments during days -30 to +90 relative to the breeding season: Control Treatment (low-quality limpograss hay supplemented with molasses and urea) and Methionine Treatment (control diet supplemented with 3.7g of rumen-protected methionine per head per day). Longissimus dorsi muscle samples were collected from 10 bull calves per maternal treatment at one month of age. Muscle tissue samples were subjected to DNA extraction, library generation, and subsequent bisulfite sequencing.